Machester United Chasing Tottenham's Luka Modric

Manchester United are set to turn their attentions to Luka Modric after Eden Hazard snubbed them for Chelsea by making a £22 million bid for the Tottenham playmaker .The Croatia midfielder has been on Sir Alex Ferguson's wish-list for some time.But although Tottenham value him at around £30m, United are unwilling to pay that much for the 26-year-old playmaker.Manchester United are confident of luring Modric since Spurs failed to secure Champions League football next season.The player tried to force through a move to Chelsea last summer but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy rejected offers from Stamford Bridge.Modric is now ready to submit another transfer request, with Tottenham unlikely to stand in his way for a second summer, the report added.However, Spurs will hold out for as much money as they can, and United are certain to have to increase their initial offer.

Stoke City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Matthew Etherington's first half double proved decisive in a barnstorming game at the Britannia as Stoke held off Spurs to win 2-1. Tottenham entered this game on a run of six consecutive Premier League wins but the Potters are not a team to be taken lightly and Tony Pulis' men were at their pulsating best from the very first whistle. Inside thirty seconds Brad Friedel was forced into a world class stop to deny Spurs old boy Peter Crouch who thought he had given Stoke the perfect start. However, it was not long before another former Spurs man was celebrating when Crouch's shot rebounded off the post into the path of Matthew Etherington who applied a cool finish just before the quarter of an hour mark. The goal seemed to kick Spurs into some sort of life but they couldn't create a meaningful opening and were caught with a trademark sucker punch just two minutes before the break when Ryan Shotton's long throw was flicked on by Ryan Shawcross and Etherington was at the far post again to find the corner of the net. Harry Redknapp rang the changes at the break and it seemed to work as the visitors began to threaten on a regular basis and they grabbed a lifeline just after the hour mark when Luka Modric was felled in the box by Glenn Whelan and Emmanuel Adebayor stepped up to send Thomas Sorenson the wrong way. Stoke were on the back foot from that moment on and were fortunate to stay ahead when Younes Kaboul's drive was elbowed off the line by Shawcross but the referee didn't see it and Kaboul's afternoon soon got worse when he was given a second booking and afforded an early bath. Spurs continued to press but Sorenson and his defenders were in superb form and Stoke were not willing to let the North Londoners out of jail today as they held on for a superb victory that might kickstart their season.

Match Report Tottenham 3 QPR 1

Two goals from Gareth Bale and one from Rafael van der Vaart helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 3-1 victory at home to QPR. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recalled the fit-again Ledley King to the heart of the home defence, while Armand Traore started at left-back for Rangers in place of Clint Hill. The home side started brightly and after Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor had wasted chances, Spurs hit the front with 20 minutes on the clock. A fluent Tottenham attack ended with the ball being played out to the arriving Gareth Bale on the left and he lashed a left-foot shot past the stranded Paddy Kenny from 15 yards. Just past the half-hour mark it was 2-0 as King attempted a shot from distance which fell to the unmarked van der Vaart in the area and he despatched a left-foot shot into the corner of the net. Luka Modric then swerved a left-foot volley just wide of the far post as Spurs ended the half in total charge. Rangers made a double change at the interval and just past the hour mark one of the substitutes, Jay Bothroyd, halved the deficit as he headed home after Heidar Helguson headed a corner back across the goal. Ten minutes later Spurs restored their two-goal cushion as Bale and Aaron Lennon played a one-two and the Welshman curled a fine left-footer past the despairing dive of Kenny. Adebayor should have added a fourth, while the R's had two efforts cleared off the line deep into stoppage time at the end of the game.

Modric wants future resolved

Luka Modric is anxious for his future to be resolved after revealing he has been left in limbo over a possible move to Chelsea. Modric has made it known that he is keen for a move across London to take place but Tottenham have insisted that they are not prepared to sell one of their prize assets. Chelsea have had two bids of £22m and £27m firmly rejected by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and have reportedly made a third approach for the Croatia midfielder, offering midfielder Yossi Benayoun as part of the deal. Tottenham are yet to comment on the latest reports but Modric revealed that he has heard nothing and is still waiting to hear whether a move will take place. Modric is reluctant to talk about the situation and told RTE Sport: "I don't want to talk about that, I said before what I think and that's it. "I said a lot of things before and still everything is the same at the moment. I will see - I'm still waiting."

Modric hands in transfer request

Luka Modric submitted a written transfer request on Wednesday night in a desperate bid to secure his move from Tottenham to Chelsea.
The Croatia midfielder sent his request directly to Daniel Levy and again made it clear that he feels the Spurs chairman broke a verbal agreement made when Modric signed his last long-term contractThe 25-year-old insists Levy promised to let him move if the club received the kind of offer that Chelsea have tabled. However, two bids from Stamford Bridge have been rejected — initially for £22million and this week for £27m — with Tottenham insisting the player would not be sold at any price.
Out of respect to Harry Redknapp, Modric has still travelled to South Africa with his colleagues for the start of their pre-season tour.The manager is not on the trip for personal reasons but Modric admires Redknapp and will continue to train and play for as long as he is at Tottenham.
It would come as no surprise to see Levy reject Modric’s transfer request, but an improved bid in excess of £30m, which is now expected, could be harder to turn down for a player so desperate to leave.

Luka Modric:I want to leave Tottenham

Luka Modric says he wants to leave Tottenham this summer to join London rivals Chelsea.The superstar Croatian midfielder has already been the subject of a reported £22million bid from the Blues.And with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp describing that as "ridiculous", Chelsea are expected to increase their offer.

Now Modric himself has broken his silence on the matter, and says he wants to end his spell at White Hart Lane.Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club."I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer."

Modric has also been strongly linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, but it appears he's set his heart on a move across the capital to Stamford Bridge.He added: "Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.

"I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family. I like the city."Modric, now 25, joined Tottenham from Croatia Zagreb in the summer of 2008 for around £16.5million and has been a huge hit at White Hart Lane ever since.

Chelsea have £22m bid rejected by Spurs but will be back

Chelsea last night lodged a £22m bid for Luka Modric as owner Roman Abramovich made the first move in his attempts to rejuvenate an ageing squad.The formal offer was rejected by Tottenham within two hours, but the Blues are expected to return with improved terms imminently.Abramovich -- desperate to add more creativity to Chelsea's midfield and reduce the average age of his squad -- has identified the Croatian playmaker as the priority target.The Russian is determined to press ahead with the signing despite the fact that he is yet to appoint a replacement for manager Carlo Ancelotti.Modric has confirmed in recent weeks that Spurs' failure to retain their Champions League status came as a substantial blow to his ambitions and it is believed Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy, White Hart Lane's manager and chairman, face a fierce battle to hold on to their prize asset.Manchester United have also registered their interest in Modric, but have turned their attentions to Alexis Sanchez -- who is also on Chelsea's target list -- and Arsenal's Samir Nasri.Abramovich has decided against bidding for French international Nasri after being offered the midfielder by intermediaries.Redknapp has already stated that it is crucial for Spurs to retain Modric, describing the playmaker as "key" to his team's fortunes. But he has also knows he has to generate funds to make changes to his side.Spurs rejected an initial inquiry from Chelsea two weeks ago and, although no bid was made at that time, it is believed an offer close to £35m might tempt them into a deal.

Modric was in stunning form last season and has proved to be one of the most effective players in the Premier League. He arrived at Spurs in 2008 -- signing a six-year deal which he renewed in 2010 -- for £16m from Dynamo Zagreb and given the progress he has made, Chelsea's bid will be regarded as derisory by Levy.However, it is the opening salvo in Chelsea's attempts to prise Modric away and much will depend on how the player reacts now an official bid has been made.

Chelsea targeted Modric, Sanchez and Neymar as their three bid signings this summer, but have dropped their interest in Sanchez, believing the Chilean winger will now become United's big summer recruit.

Chelsea are battling with Real Madrid to secure Neymar and have to decide whether to bid the €45m which will trigger a release clause in his contract. Abramovich would prefer to pay around €30m, at most, for the 19-year-old but may be outbid by Real. No official offer has been made yet.

Securing Modric, though, is Chelsea's priority. They will have been encouraged by his remarks that "if there is an offer which is good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is of course possible," though the Croat did add that he was not "bothered" or intent on leaving Spurs.

That may now change given Chelsea's eagerness to secure him to provide the creativity to supply striker Fernando Torres. There is a long-held theory at the club that the team lack a player with Modric's guile, though his arrival would break up a hugely settled area of Chelsea's side.

There have been suggestions that Frank Lampard's future is in some doubt after a comparatively disappointing campaign, though it is all but unthinkable that such a key player will be sold. Modric's presence and price, though, would suggest that it is the 25-year-old who will take over the England international's role as the team's creative hub.

Abramovich is also determined to add pace to his managerless side, and a winger will likely follow in Modric's wake.

Chelsea are understood to be close to announcing the signing of Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, widely regarded as a long-term replacement for Didier Drogba. Spurs are interested in the original version, but Chelsea want him to stay for at least one more year. They may, though, be willing to sell Nicolas Anelka.

If Spurs did sell Modric to Chelsea it would cause an outcry from their supporters, given the animosity between the two clubs and may be a damaging statement about their ambitions.

Spurs would rather clear out the likes of Robbie Keane, David Bentley and Sebastien Bassong, with Redknapp accepting Levy's argument that the squad needs to be "streamlined".

It is understood that Abramovich is close to deciding on appointing a new manager. An announcement is expected within the next 10 days and could come a lot sooner.

The expectation remains that Guus Hiddink will secure his release from his contract as Turkey's coach and will be offered a 12-month deal with the option of a further year.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the gates of Villa Park last night to vent their frustration over the impending appointment of the former Birmingham City boss -- and 'Bluenose scum not welcome' was scrawled in white paint on the entrance to the training ground.

Chelsea Rival Manchester United for Luka Modric

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has continually exclaimed that his top midfielder Luka Modric is not for sale at any price, but the player himself has admitted that he is ambitious and would be keen on continuing his adventures in the Champions League.

The Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson has reportedly stepped up his interest in Modric to replace Paul Scholes at Old Trafford again after Wesley Sneijder announced that he would be staying on at Inter Milan, but todays Mail says that the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is the most likely to persuade Modric to move across London to Stamford Bridge.

The Telegraph says today that Modric is top of Abramovich’s three man list for the transfer window, alongside Neymar and Alexis Sanchez, and he is ready and willing to pay what it takes to get all three players at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Mail on Sunday reported: Despite the protestations of manager Harry Redknapp, his Croatia midfielder looks certain to leave White Hart Lane. However, anybody wanting Modric will have to see off Chelsea’s longstanding interest in the player.

They also go on to say that Harry Redknapp is worried about losing his star man and is considering the Everton youngster Jack Rodwell as his replacement, but as Spurs are set to gain around £35m if Modric does leave Redknapp could be looking at more skilled and experienced players than David Moyes prodigy…